Why Jim Tsutsui Jr. is running for City Council

By James H. "Jim" Tsutsui, Jr.

My name is Jim Tsutsui Jr. and I am running for City Council. I have lived in Laguna Hills with my wife and two children since 1984. For 24 years as a cost estimator and department manager in civil engineering I have designed and budgeted residential, commercial, and industrial developments throughout California with integrity and vision. For 26 years I have worked for volunteer organizations on the local and international level, making a positive difference in my communities and society. I am asking you for your vote and support so that I can now serve in our city council and make a difference with our city.

Laguna Hills was incorporated in 1991. I believe we have done an excellent job over the last 13 years. We have built a great community of 34,000 residents, 19 parks, and a wide range of private businesses. We have built a community center and a new city hall, and stopped a commercial airport from coming to the closed El Toro Marine Base. The question is what do we need to do now? I have taken the time to meet with our city manager, review our city budgets, and drive our streets with my eyes wide-open to see what issues and problems our city will face in the next four years. Here is what I have found: The cost of running and maintaining our city is steadily rising. We are losing an estimated $500,000 in motor vehicle in-lieu fees from the State. We are losing $800,000 of $1.635 million from the jet fuel tax reversal. More FOR LEASE signs are being put up representing businesses, which failed or have moved away. All of our land is developed, limiting future growth. Our city had to cutback on some city and county services to make ends meet. There is evidence of wear and tear and vandalism in parts of our city.

What I propose if elected are causing four years of "creativity and prosperity." I will bring new vitality, new faces, and new strategies to improve the quality of life in our city by inspiring volunteerism and fund-raising. Rather than cutting costs and reducing services, we can create new revenue sources, empower local businesses, and recruit the aid of our young people and local professionals. We can channel the "public service requirement" of our high school students to learn and serve at our new City Hall. We can create a volunteer team of graffiti/vandalism watchdogs. We can create new ways of drawing business into our city. We can expand our team of city commissioners to include more volunteer professionals and the wisdom of our retired citizens. We can improve our parks, have more concerts, live theater, an art gallery, commission sculpture, and initiate annual citywide events. We can have contests and festivals that will energize the creativity of our citizens, and put Laguna Hills on the map. Please honor me with your vote and your support for this November 2nd to realize a new and prosperous future for our city.

Jim Tsutsui Jr. Candidate